SOA FW 18/19 Winners

Footwear award: ECCO – ECCO EXOSTRIKE

ECCO

ECCO EXOSTRIKE

DESIGN: NIKI TÆSTENSEN

CATEGORY: FOOTWEAR

MOTIVATION FROM THE JURY

Bonding ultrastrong dyneema fabric to leather Ecco created a super soft, paper thin material that gives you the nice touch of leather with less weight and added water protection. The first shoe using this fabric is the Ecco Exostrike, a lightweight hiking boot. Its glove-like fit and good cushioning of the P.U Phorone Midsole guarantee great comfort, the traction also proved to be good while testing under winter conditions. The modern Nordic design not only appeals out on the trail but also in the city.

PRIMARY INNOVATION FEATURES

A pair of new shoes with the all new P.U PHORENE ribbed midsole and with the world-first Dyneema® Bonded Leather by ECCO. Dyneema® Bonded Leather is a paper-thin material, just 0.5-millimetre-thick, with the appealing and luxurious look of leather. Normally, such slim leather would be very weak. The new material Dyneema® Bonded Leather by ECCO, still provides superb tear resistance, and an incredibly high strenght-to-weight ratio.

INTENDED SPECIFIC END USE

ECCO Exostrike combines fully functional outdoor attributes but still with the style of a street-smart sneaker. A fast hiking product that allows you to get outdoors and hit the trail quickly. Always stable and with good comfort.

SPECIFIC FEATURES

Combine the luxurious look and feel of leather with the unprecedented strength of Dyneema®, the strongest fibre in the world, and push it to the max. The result is Dyneema® Bonded Leather, the new material created by ECCO Leather and The Dyneema® Project: the thinnest yet strongest leather in the market. The ultra-light PHORENE midsole gives you extra dynamic power and trail-grabbing torgue. For the extra protective support it comes with an external Prosoma heel guard. Extremely high durability in both upper and sole, together with a timeless innovative design, which gives the product a remarkable long lifetime.

SUSTAINABILITY INFORMATION

ECCO Fluidform Technology injects a resilient, shock-absorbent material directly into the shoe mould. They bond the sole to the upper instantly and seamlessly, without the use of any glue. ECCO is the only major shoe company to own and operate their own production and retail facilities. Their Code of Conduct describes social and environmental responsibilities.